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I should have said civilian authorities. Butler's action was not cleared by Washington. If he had done that, Mumford probably would have been spared.

Are these the same Union civilian authorities who let prisoners of both sides die in prison?

The federal government adopted a policy of treating rebel prisoners the same way that Union prisoners were treated. This in aan attempt to pressure the rebels to treat U.S. prisoners better.

At least rebel prisioners were not shot down in cold blood, as many Union POW's were.

This is an interesting piece of text in regard to the POW issue:

"The experience of one week with the Rebel Army satisfies me that the men are in a high state of discipline and have learned implicit obedience. When separated from their officers they do not show the same self-reliance that our men possess,—do not seem able to discuss with intelligent ease the political subjects which claim every man's attention at this time. All of them show a lack of energy and spirit, a want of thrift and cleanliness, which are altogether paradoxical to our men. A constant fear of their officers is associated with their prompt obedience of orders.

Many, while they expressed their contempt for "the Yankees," would lament the war and express a desire to throw down their arms and return to their homes, if they could only do this without molestation. Jackson's name was always mentioned with a species of veneration, and his orders were obeyed with a slavish obedience unsurpassed by that of Russian serfs.

The men generally looked sturdy when in ranks, yet a cachectic expression of countenance prevailed, which could not be accounted for entirely by the unwashed faces that were, from necessity or choice, the rule. Those who have fallen into our hands show worn-out constitutions, disordered digestions and a total lack of vital stamina. They do not bear pain with any fortitude, and their constitutions seem to have very little power of resistance to disease. The rate of mortality in the rebel sick and wounded is double or treble that found in the Hospitals containing our men.

Three of the buildings on the hospital grounds were taken possession of by the Confederates for the accommodation of their sick. These soon threw themselves on the beds, with their filthy clothing and boots. In a few hours a marked contrast could be noticed between the neatness of the wards containing the Union soldiers and those occupied by the rebels."

-- This was written by a civilian doctor who was in Frederick, MD during its occupation in September, 1862.

Based on this, I'd say the best thing that could happen to a rebel soldier was to be captured.

Walt